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“Y’know, you’re not allowed to sleep in the courthouse. It’s got its own penal code and everything.”
Ema Skye rolled over, her lab coat pillow falling half off the courthouse bench as she was stirred from her nap. Standing over her—dressed in her professional pink suit and unprofessional face piercings—was High Prosecutor Kay Faraday. As ever, the girl was wildly grinning at Ema, and even though she was more tired than charmed, it tugged on Ema's lips.
Kay and Ema had been friends for ten years, but it felt like they’d been side by side for Ema’s entire life. It was hard not to feel that way. Ema's life effectively restarting at sixteen contributed to that feeling, but Kay had put in the work.
On a microscale, Kay was a lot of things. Charming, funny, annoying, driven, pretty—it'd take Ema too long to list them all.
More important was the macro, where only one word fit. 'Loud.'
Kay was loud. Kay's existence was loud. When she acted, whether she was playing the clown or the vigilante, she was too much to be ignored. Kay had this force behind her that passively demanded attention, and when she wanted to be friends with someone, that force created a place for her in their lives.
Ema only knew a few people who had that power.
Her sister used it to demand respect. Miles Edgeworth and Franziska von Karma knew exactly how much attention and praise they deserved. Phoenix Wright had it, though, like Kay, it was more a part of his charm than something he used.
There was a second common thread between those people. They were Ema’s favourite people. They were all good, honest inspirations. And, while their force of will got them there, Ema had her biases among them.
As for Kay?
Kay was Ema’s favourite.
“You are the last person allowed to lecture about committing a crime.”
With a false gasp, Kay so badly pretended to be shocked that the quality of her acting became, itself, shocking. “Loitering with intent to harass an officer of the courts? Oh, you are going to jail for a very, very long time, missy.”
“Oh, cram it-. Wait, hang on. Did you just call me ‘missy?’ ‘Missy?!’” Ema popped an eyebrow, much to Kay’s chagrin. A small laugh filled her throat as she tried to continue. “What? Are you talking about? That is not a word anyone has used this century.”
“Well, you have to use weird words when you want to demean someone jokingly. It’s a rule. Believe me, Emmy, I know so many mean words, and you don’t want me to call you those.” Grinning, Kay raised her already high register into a baby voice. “I-I’m a little scared of myself for knowing them, actually.”
“I don’t believe you,” Ema smirked as she twisted around to sit on the bench properly. “You’re too innocent to know any bad words.”
Kay gasped. A real gasp this time, though not a serious one. “That is so not true! I’m the Great Thief Yatagarasu, Emmy. I’m the greatest criminal, and criminals know all the bad words. Cursing is ninety percent of being a crime doer.”
“Don’t think you’re supposed to be yelling about the Yatagarasu in the courthouse…”
“I wouldn’t be if you didn’t make me, so shut up you-. You-.”
Cutting herself off, Kay crouched down to get on face level with Ema. With a small gesture, Kay reeled Ema in. Ema's heart hung in her throat as she melded with Kay's space. Their eyes locked and their noses touching, Kay took a deep breath.
Ema couldn't breathe at all.
“…you bitch…”
Kay fell back, laughing at the absurdity she embodied. Ema was physically laughing, but it was nothing more than a poor mimic. Humour wasn’t something Ema had a connection to right now. There was almost nothing Ema had a connection to.
Not when that had her cheeks lit up and her heart in pining mode.
Not when Ema was craving that proximity. That touch. That intimacy.
Not when Ema needed the unfulfilled promise Kay made in getting so close to her lips.
Normal girl best friend needs, obviously. Ema swore.
“Sorry, that was mean. You’re great.” As Kay’s laughter settled, she took on a blush of her own. It was guilt based instead of Ema's embarrassed, but seeing it was still a distracting comfort. “Anyway, how are you doing? I assume bad, given the sleeping on a bench.”
A dry noise left Ema’s mouth. Swallowing and shaking her head, Ema tried to wrangle back control from her heart. “Mm-hmm. I’m fine. This is recreational bench napping.”
Kay grabbed Ema's wrist, and Ema checked right back out. After a quick glance at Ema’s watch, Kay turned her curiosity back on Ema. “It’s six, Em’. You can go home and sleep. In fact, you’re supposed to have clocked out by now.”
“I did…” Ema lied, Kay stared, and Ema lowered her eyes. At least that helped with Ema’s embarrassment. “Is there any answer I can give that ends with you letting me go back to the forensics lab?”
“If you say you’re doing something important, I will let you. But if I find out you lied to me, I will be the saddest anyone in my family has been in generations.”
Kay was pouting. Ema wasn’t looking, but she could hear Kay’s frown, and imagining it was enough to get Ema to do anything. “In that case, I was getting in a bit of rest after testifying to prepare for a night of overtime, ‘cause I love my job.”
“Well, in that case, I’m going to help!” Kay pulled on Ema’s arm, and Ema flew to her feet. “I’m taking you to your bed, and you’ll get some great rest to have a great workday tomorrow. …you have a bed, right? A floor mattress doesn’t count.”
“I’m not that bad. Please tell me you don’t think I’m that bad.” Tentatively, Ema looked up at Kay. She tried to hold a playful glare, but her lips preferred to smile with Kay's.
Kay rolled her eyes and snorted. “I can imagine a world where that is true, and that’s all it takes for me to make the joke.”
“Oh? Does that mean you can imagine a world where I’m a-.” Ema cut herself off and took a beat. She was close to Kay, but she wanted to be closer, and Ema had a perfect excuse. Chest to chest, Ema brought her lips to Kay's ear. “B-i-t-c-h?”
Ema snickered.
Kay… Kay didn’t do anything. Kay just stood there, looking down at Ema for a silent moment. Her piercing eyes struck something inside Ema, and she went quiet.
If one of Kay’s looks could be said to be the cutest—and Ema was very opinionated about that subject—it was when she felt bad about something that didn't matter.
She hadn't meant anything by the joke. They both knew that. They'd both consented to it being told. Both of them had found it funny, even with Ema’s weird obsessions keeping her from fully feeling it.
But that didn’t stop Kay from taking any opportunity she saw to remind Ema that when Kay thought of her, she was only ever thinking one thing: ‘incredible.’
“I can’t, actually.” Kay dropped the hand on Ema’s wrist to hold hers instead. “My Emmy could never be a bitch, ‘cause my Emmy is a fierce woman who stands up for herself and what’s right. If I ever thought that was wrong? Well, I wouldn’t deserve to have her in my life.”
“Your Emmy…?”
Kay blushed. That genuine, platonic ‘girl beast friends’ blush that Ema knew so well. “T-the Ema that lives in my head. Mm-hmm. That’s-. That’s what I meant. She’s what I picture when I imagine you, and she’s the best. The best-est. Just great.”
“Well, hopefully, I can live up to her example once I’m better rested.”
Ema wrapped her arm around Kay’s stomach, leaning into her side and radiating in Kay’s presence.
Ema loved her Kay. Kay loved her Ema.
And, for tonight, it was okay that only one of them knew exactly what that meant.
“Maybe you could get my dinner to go with that bedtime? It’s only fair, ya?”
“Anything for you, Ema.”